The 2014 NFL season kicks off at 10:30 Friday morning (AEST) when the 2013 Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, host the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers. It’s a classic match of offence against defence. Green Bay’s uber-accurate Rodgers has the best win percentage (. 775) of any starting quarterback the last three seasons. He’ll need to be at his best though as Seattle’s defensive backs (secondary), known as the Legion of Boom, denied space to every team they played last year. Oh and the Packers will have to deal with the Seahawks fanatical fans too, a crowd so loud that they can make the earth move — literally. It’s easy to see why the Seahawks have won 18 of its last 20 regular-season and playoff games at home. Hard to see the Packers getting off to a winning start.

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WHO IS THE FAVOURITE

Running back Robert Turbin #22 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with quarterback Russell Wilson.Source:AFP

Despite being the reigning champions, the Seahawks are not the consensus pick to go back-to-back. That ‘honour’ belongs to the team that lost in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Peyton Manning may be 38, and key wide receiver Wes Welker might have just copped a four week suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy but the Broncos added depth in their defence in the off-season and remember one thing — never doubt PeyDay. Manning still has mucho weapons, and the defence have added all-pro strength in DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib.

WHO IS THE DARK HORSE

Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs on the sidelines.Source:AFP

The Kansas City Chiefs had a great regular season in 2013 (11-5) and then a one point loss in the post-season. With a veteran coach in Andy Reid, possibly the best running back in the game in Jamaal Charles (yes Adrian Peterson fans, possibly) and a monster tight end in Travis Kelce, the Chiefs could do some damage late in 2014. Sure they’re not favourites, they’re not even the Green Bay Packers or New Orleans Saints, but the subheading says ‘dark horse’ not second favourite.

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wide Receiver — Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions.Source:AFP

“Megatron” is the best receiver of his generation. A fast running, ball catching, touchdown scoring machine, Johnson is a two metre tall game turner.

Quarterback — Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos.Source:AFP

Enough debate over Manning’s “legacy” each February. It’s unreal that at 38 years old, he’s arguably the best player in the game. The five-time MVP will have Denver right back in contention. Will he throw for 55 touchdowns again? Probably not with a healthy dose of Montee Ball. But Manning will be Manning.

Running Back — Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings put up the ‘don’t argue’.Source:Getty Images

Speaking of players who should be breaking down by now, “All Day” continues his torrid run at Canton. At 29 years old, there’s no sign of Peterson hitting the wall. Facing a crowded line of scrimmage much of his career, he has already surpassed 10,000 yards. And hobbled by a groin injury in 2013, he should be fresher in 2014 and benefit from a better, not Christian Ponder-led Minnesota.

Defensive End — J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans warms up.Source:AFP

Houston won’t do much on offence in 2014, kicking the tires on Ryan Fitzpatrick before gambling on a high draft pick at quarterback. But Watt and Jadeveon Clowney working in tandem will be worth the price of admission alone. Clowney was scary for stretches in the preseason — offences can’t double-team both. Watt’s star (he has 361/2 sacks and 27 batted balls in three years) will continue to rise.

Brad Wing looks like being the only fully-fledged Australian to play in week one. The 23-year-old punter’s Pittsburgh Steelers play the Cleveland Browns on Monday AEST.

Jesse Williams, the big defensive tackle from Queensland known as Tha Monstar, suffered another serious pre-season knee injury and will likely miss his second consecutive season with the Seahawks.

Brad Wing at practice with the Steelers.Source:Supplied

David Yankey, the Sydney-born offensive guard for the Minnesota Vikings, survived the pre-season cuts. But, earlier this year Yankey became a US citizen.

Tom Hornsey, the 25-year-old punter from Geelong, was cut by the Dallas Cowboys last week, but he’s hopeful one of the other 31 NFL teams will be looking to sign him soon.

ODDS

Super Bowl XLIX

Broncos $6

Seahawks $6.50

49ers $9

Patriots $9

Packers $11

Saints $11

Super Bowl XLIX Roughie

Chiefs $41

MVP

Peyton Manning $3.25

Aaron Rodgers $7

Drew Brees $8.50

Tom Brady $11.00

Andrew Luck $17

MVP Roughie

Jamaal Charles $51

OFF SEASON TURMOIL

The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be glad the season is underway after a tumultuous off-season where the NFL dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

1. Ray Rice: On a February night inside an Atlantic City casino, an elevator’s doors slid apart, and Ray Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, emerged, holding the woman who is now his wife, Janay Palmer. In a fight minutes earlier, Rice had allegedly rendered her unconscious, and now she was in Rice’s arms, slumped over. Rice dropped her to the floor, face-first. He kicked her legs to move them away from the elevator doors. He then grabbed her waist and half-heartedly tried to pick her up again before a security officer arrived.

2.Wes Welker: Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. Welker tested positive for amphetamines in May, reportedly while at the Kentucky Derby according to the NFL’s website, and on Tuesday learned that he had lost his appeal, which took place two weeks ago. That’s right Welker took some speed and has to sit out four games, Rice bashed a woman and sits out two.

3.Jim Irsay: The NFL suspended Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay for the first six games of the season and fined him $500,000 for violating it’s personal conduct policy after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour stemming from a March traffic stop. The 55-year-old admitted to a judge he was under the influence of the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone when he was arrested on March 16.

4.Jerry Jones: The NFL’s most high profile and wealthiest owner came under fire before this season when snaps of him in a restaurant bathroom all over a throng of young women were leaked online. The suggestive photos showed him in racy positions with unidentified women. Jones said they were from five years ago and that the circumstances were “misrepresented”. Reports said the photos may have been released in an effort to extort Jones.